National Open School (NOS) has been functioning as an autonomous body since 1989-90. It had been functioning as an "Open School" with CBSE from 1979-80 to 1988-89. From 1990 National Open has been conducting a bridge course and two other courses in the Secondary and Senior Secondary stages. It has set up several Accredited Institutions (AIs) in India in different States and Union Territories for academic and vocational courses. Universalisation of education, promotion of equality and justice in the society and expansion of democratic values amongst the peoples of India. are the major objectives of NOS. Besides, it has promised to extend educational opportunities particularly to women, scheduled castes and tribes. the rural poor. unempIoyed and partly employed peoples of India in the age group of 15 to 35 years.

The utility of NOS will be relevant in a democratic country like India, only when it fosters the spirit of democracy, by universalising education, irrespective of any kind of geographical social or political barriers and by expanding its network within
the country, in smooth homogeneity. National Open School should not deviate from its mission and should provide educational opportunities to hitherto neglected sections of the society. We expect this paper to stimulate more thinking on the issue raised here so as to focus the attention of distance educators and policy makers towards shaping appropriate and viable policies to spread distance education at the school level.

The author analyses the registration status of the students of NOS in different states to find out whether any imbalance existed in enrolment with respect to the reqional distribution of students in India. He also estimates enrolment rate in the AIs in different States and finds that numbers of AIs in a particular State were not in conformity with the strength of enrolment there. The author has concluded that activities of NOS were highly localised and specific planning was not ensured before expanding its network in the country.